Florida Construction News staff writer
Two workers were killed Wednesday after a crane collapsed at the construction site of a new hospital on Florida’s Space Coast, officials confirmed.
The incident happened at the future site of Cape Canaveral Hospital in Merritt Island, located about 60 miles east of Orlando. According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the two victims were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Their identities have not yet been released.
Rain and strong winds were reported in the area at the time, but it is unclear whether weather played a role.
The site is part of a $400 million project to build a new Cape Canaveral Hospital, which began construction last year and is scheduled to open in 2027. The facility will replace the existing hospital in nearby Cocoa Beach. Construction has been paused.
In a statement, Health First, the non-profit health system overseeing the project, extended condolences to those affected and said it is cooperating with the investigation.
“The site is secure and is currently under an active investigation,” the organization said. “We are monitoring the situation closely with local authorities and Gilbane, the construction management company on the project.”
Gilbane confirmed the deaths in a separate statement. According to a company spokesperson, one of the deceased workers was employed by Baker Concrete, while the other worked for a separate trade contractor.
“We are supporting our trade contractors and working with them and the authorities on an active investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the company said in a statement.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and local law enforcement are leading the investigation.
